Curtain-drying stretcher



April 13; 1926. 1,580,958

E. H. CHAPMAN CURTAIN DRYING STRETCHER Filed June 12, 1924 anwmtozPatented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL H. CHAPMAN, OF KENWOOD PARK, IOWA.

CURTAIN-DRYING STRETGHER.

Application filed June 12, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARLH. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kenwood Park, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-DryingStretchers, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and easily operateddevice for suspending lace and other light fabric curtains for dryingunder tension.

In the laundering of lace curtains, and the like, which connot well beironed smooth and straight, it is customary to stretch out the dampcurtain and attach it by pins or hooks to a frame of some sort. Theoperation is tedious, requires especial care to prevent distortion ofthe curtain, and is apt to pull, if not tear, the fabric at the pointsof attachment. This invention is designed to remove these difiicultiesand defects by means of a device which is very convenient to use, se

i cures smooth and uniform results, and oocupies but little space whennot in use.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, Fig.1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention as in use.Fig. 2 shows details of the lower rod, on a scale approximating the fullsize. Fig. 3 shows a fragment of the upper rod and a suspension captherefor.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes a si'ipporting frame here shown asa crossbeam on two uprights. A large doorway, or a porch would serve thesame purpose. The crossbeam is provided with two hooks, 6 and 7 to carrya suspending cord 8. This connects with a branched cord 9, which in turnconnects with the ends of a suspending Serial 1T0. 719,658.

rod 10, on which the curtain 11 is hung by its upper hem 12. A simplemeans for con necting the cord with this rod is a pair of thimbles 13provided with eyes 14: to receive the cord. One of the thimbles may bepermanently attached to the rod, and the other loose thereon; so as toslip on and off for threading the curtain hem on the rod. Another rod15, considerably heavier, is similarly threaded through the lower hem ofthe curtain, and serves by gravity to hold the curtain straight andsmooth, as shown. In practice this rod is preferably a brass, or othernon-rusting tube filled with lead 16 to give the desired weight. In Fig.2 it is shown with an internal thread 17 at one end to receive thethreaded extension 18 of another length of rod 15. By this means a rodof suitable length for ordinary curtains may be extended for wider ones.The same means may be applied to the upper rod, though it has not beendeemed necessary to illustrate it separately.

A weight 19 at the end of the cord 8 serves to balance the curtain andits connections, and admits of the parts being drawn down to yaconvenient position for handling, and raised to any desired height fordrying.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A curtain-drying stretcher, comprising a rod insertable in one of thecurtain hems, a suspending cord therefor attached to one end of the rod,a detachable member applied to the other end of the rod, and to whichthe 75 cord connects, and a suspending counterweight connecting with thesuspending cord.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL H. CHAPMAN.

